As Taskforce Kiwi marks its second anniversary of disaster relief work, the New Zealand-based organization has expanded its global reach by sending its first group of volunteers to support wildfire recovery efforts in Hawaiʻi. These skilled volunteers are heading to the island of Maui to assist with the ongoing recovery in Lahaina, a community heavily impacted by wildfires. Taskforce Kiwi’s efforts are in collaboration with its US-based partner, Red Lightning, which has been on the ground in Lahaina for over a year.

Red Lightning initially provided critical communications support to the devastated community in the wake of the fire and has since shifted its focus to decontaminating and preparing smoke-impacted homes for families to return. The organization has played a pivotal role in the community’s recovery but now requires additional manpower to meet the growing demands.

“The amount of work still required is immense, and Red Lightning has requested support from Taskforce Kiwi to help speed up recovery,” said Rich Adams, National Director of Taskforce Kiwi.

Strengthening International Partnerships for Long-Term Recovery

This deployment marks the first formal collaboration between Taskforce Kiwi and Red Lightning on US soil, though their partnership has been ongoing. Previously, the two organizations connected in New Zealand when Red Lightning volunteers participated in drone piloting and aerial mapping training led by Taskforce Kiwi in Auckland. Now, the organizations have come together with a shared mission: to assist Maui’s residents in rebuilding their lives after the wildfire disaster.

“Taskforce Kiwi has boldly answered the call in what we hope is the first of many deployments, which should provide the needed support and structure for a many-months long recovery effort,” said Red Lightning CEO Mike Shiffler. “With Taskforce Kiwi joining us, we are poised to make a significant impact to help return families to their homes as quickly as possible.”

The first cohort of Taskforce Kiwi volunteers will be the initial wave of several rotations that are scheduled to head to Lahaina over the coming months. These volunteers will play an essential role in remediating thousands of homes damaged by the wildfire, helping to accelerate the recovery process for the island’s residents.

Coordinating Global Aid

Taskforce Kiwi’s operations are made possible in part by the logistical support provided by their international humanitarian logistics partner, Airlink, based in Washington, DC. Airlink has generously coordinated the flights for Taskforce Kiwi’s volunteers, ensuring that much-needed assistance arrives in Hawaiʻi without delay.

Both Taskforce Kiwi and Red Lightning are united in their goal of supporting disaster-stricken communities and bringing relief to those in need. Their joint efforts in Hawaiʻi are a testament to the power of international collaboration in the face of overwhelming challenges.

To learn more about Taskforce Kiwi or to support their ongoing mission to provide aid to communities following disasters, visit their website at www.taskforcekiwi.org.